Knitting machine



May 13, 1941 H. E. HoUsEMAN 2,241,404

KNITTING MACHINE original Filed March 28', 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Varo/c/ T c/se/zzavz NQ Q N5 vb n@ Original Filed March 2.8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Afro/Mfrs.

Patented May 13, 1941 KNITTING MACHINE Harold E. Houseman, Laconia, N. H., assignor to Scott and Willi ams, Incorporated, Laconia,

N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts original application March es, 1939, serial No. 264,533. Divided and this application August 3, 1939, serial No. 288,083

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting machine, and particularly to the adjustments of the cams thereof.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 264,533, led March 28, 1939.

As indicated more fully in said patent application, the machine of the present invention may be regarded as an improvement on the machine of the Scott Patent 1,641,101, dated August 30, 1927, various features of which it embodies. The improved machine is particularly designed for the production of a split foot stocking in which the leg is knit two-feed so that at the beginning of split knitting above the heel no yarn or feed must be introduced. Speciiically, `there is provided such a stocking in which there is provided a rib top knit continuously with such leg.

The present division of said parent application is directed to the provision of stitch cam controlling means for securing proper adjustments and balance of stitches for the production of a satisfactory product.

The object just indicated, as well as other objects. particularly relating to details of the mechanism, will become apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through the needle cylinder and associated parts of the machine, illustrating particularly the association of a rib needle dial with theneedle cylinder;

[Figure 2 is a partial inside needle cams;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the various cams associated with the auxiliary feed of the machine and their operating elements;

Figure 4 is a Vertical section taken through certain of the operating parts of the auxiliary feed cams Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating particularly the needle cam operating elements;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section showing particularly certain stitch controlling elements and taken on the plane indicated at 6-6 of Figure 54; and

Figure 7 is an elevation of the parts illustrated in Figure 6.

.'Ihe stocking which the present machine is adapted to produce comprises a setting up course following the formation of which there are produced a number of welt-forming courses providing, as described in said Scott Patent 1,641,101, a turned plain knit welt. Following the production of this welt, there is formed the rib top development of the which is, in turn, followed by a series of ribbed loose courses. Following the formation of these loose courses, plain fabric is knit to form the extended top using the yarn which-was knit to form the rib top. Then the leg is knit with change of yarn, preferably using t-wo feeds so that two courses are produced for each revolution of the needle cylinder.

Such two-feed knitting continues until lthe high splice is reached, whereupon split knitting occurs with the formation of the high splice and an upper instep portion of the stocking. Reciprocation of the needle cylinder takes place at this time. Following completion of the high splice a yarn change may take place and formation of the heel proceeds, the heel having the conventional narrowed and widened portions. Split knitting is then resumed to form the foot and instep. At the end of the foot there are formed by rotary knitting a plurality of advance toe courses followed by a reciprocatory knit toe having narrowed and widened portions. The stocking is then finished with the formation by rotary knitting of the loopers rounds.

Referring rst to Figure 1. there are illustrated therein certain of the basic parts of the machine which are substantially similar to the parts more fully illustrated in Scott Patent 1,641,101. referred to above. The needle cylinder 34 is preferably of an elongated-type having slots in which slide not only the needles 36, but upper and lower jacks illustrated in said parent application. The sinker dial of the machine is 'illustrated at M and carries in slots therein in the conventional fashion web holders or sinkers indicated generally at 46. Sinker actuating cams of substantially conventional type are provided.

Above the needle cylinder there is located the rib needle dial 52, which carries the two-part rib needles 54, 56 of vthe type specifically disclosed in said Scott patent. The rib needle dial is driven through the conventional bevel gearing and vertical shaft in synchronism with the needle cylinder.

The needle cylinder is movable relatively to the needle dial as described in said Scott patent. Additionally, this means is used to .adjust the position of the needle cylinder for the required length of stitch at the main feed by providing for fine adjustment of the cam following screws oi' the Scott arrangement.

The present machine differs from the machine of said Scott patent by reason of the provision for split foot knitting through the high splice and foot. The nature of certain of the special elements of this machine which are of interest in the present application may be best understood by referring to Figure 2, which shows in developed form the principal needle actuating cams.

At the main feed point of the machine there are located the top center cam 62 land lower center cam 64, anked by the forward and reverse stitch cams 66 and 68, respectively. Below stitch cam 66 is located .the cam 10 which checks the needles against overrun, while below reverse stitch cam 68 there is located a cam 14 adapted to check overrun of the needles depressed by the reverse stitch cam 68. Beyond the cam in the direction of forward movement of the needles is the needle raising cam 12. During reverse knitting an extension of the cam 14 provides for needle raising.

Cams 16 and 18 are arranged to complete the lowering of the needles which are picked downward by a conventional lowering picker, not shown. The cam 80 levels the needles properly for engagement with this picker.

Of the cams so far described, all are fixed with the exception of cams 66 and 10, which are axially movable.

The cams associated with the auxiliary or instep feed comprise the top center cam 92, orward and reverse stitch cams 94 and 96, reverse and forward deilecting cams 98 and |00, forward and reverse raising cams |02 and |04, and forward and reverse lower needle arresting cams |06 and |08, respectively. Of these cams, top center cam 92 and raising cams |02 and |04 are radially movable. The other cams 94, 96, 98, |00, |06 and |08 are both radially movable and axially adjustable.

The needles 36 carried by the cylinder are of conventional type divided into the usual sole and instep series of which the-instep series are provided with long butts and of which the sole series are provided with short butts, with the exception of suture needles located at the ends of the sole series and provided with intermediate butts. It is usual to have the sole needles occupy half the cylinder and the instep needles the other half. One or more of the suture needles may be provided at each end of the short butt series.

Referringto Figures 3 and 5, it will be noted that the cam |02 is carried by the up-turned end |30 of a radially movable slide |32, which is held on the upper bed plate |3| by a cover |33, which has a milled slot adapted to receive for sliding movements the slide |32. A spring |34 urges the slide inwardly toward the needle cylinder. It is caused to move outwardly by engagement, with a stop screw |36 carried by the slide, of a lever |38, pivoted on the plate |3| and having a lower arm |42 link-connected to a lever |44, adapted to be controlled by suitable cams on the main cam drum of the machine.

A yoke |46 is provided with a milled slot and is arranged to embrace the up-turned end |30 of the slide |32 so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly with respect thereto. It is held in proper relationship with the up-turned end |30 by being secured to a bridging Portion of the cam |06. The yoke |46 has an upright extension |50 which carries cams 94 and 98. The yoke |46 is urged upwardly by a spring, which is not shown, but corresponds to the spring |12 illustrated in Figure 4, cooperating with a corresponding yoke |68. The yoke is held downwardly in adjusted position by means of a finger |40, to which reference will be made hereafter.

By reason of the mounting of the yoke and the slide, it will be evident that the cam |02 has only radial movements, while the cams |06, 94 and 98 partake of the radial movements of cam |02, but are independently vertically adjusted. The cams on the other side of the center of the auxiliary feed group are similarly mounted. There is provided'a slide |54 having an up-turned end |52 and arranged to slide on the upper bed plate under the guidance of a cover member |56. A spring |58 urges the slide |54 inwardly and outward movements are imparted thereto at proper times by means of a lever |62, which abuts a stop screw |60 adjustable in the slide |54 and is actuated through an arm |64, link-connected to a lever |66 acted upon by suitable cams on the maincam drum. On the up-turned end |52 of the slide |54 is the yoke |68, urged upwardly by spring |12 and carrying the cam |08 below the cam |04, which is secured to the end |52 of the slide. The yoke |68 is held on end |52 by cam |08 and has an upward extension |10 for supporting the cams 96 and |00. 'Ihus this second group of cams at the auxiliary feed point is mounted in a fashion similar to the group on the other side, all of the cams having common radial movements with slide |54, while the cams |08, 96 and |00 are vertically adjustable. A finger |14 similar to linger |48 limits upward movement of the yoke |66 under the action of ts spring |12.

The center cam 92 of the` auxiliary group is carried by a lever |18, which is pivoted ai; |16 on the cover plate |56. This lever is provided with an abutment screw |82 adapted to engage a stop pin |84 carried by the plate |56 under the action of a spring |86 to limit inward movement of the cam 92. An adjustable abutment screw is carried by the lever |18 so as to be engageable by the yoke |68 when the slide |54 is moved to its outermost position. When that occurs, .the center cam 92 will be withdrawn from proximity to the needle cylinder so as to miss engagement with needle butts.

The fingers |48 and |14 which limit upward movements of the yokes |46 and |68 are carried, respectively, by arms |88 and |90, which form portions of bell cranks pivoted at |9| in -a bracket attached to the upper bed plate |3|. The depending arm of the first bell crank which has the horizontal arm |88 is indicated at |92 and is provided with adjustable abutment screws |94, |96 and |98, respectively, adapted to be engaged by a cam 200, which is provided with slots embracing studs 202 at the periphery of the lower bed plate 204, the arrangement being such that the cam 200 has a substantial arc of movement about the edge of the bed plate. The cam 200 is provided with a pin 206 which is engaged and moved by the end of a lever acted upon by suitable cams on the main cam drum. The screws |94, |96, and |98 may be differentially projected so as to secure various adjustments of position of the yoke |46, depending upon the position of the cam 200. The arm |92 is provided with a lateral extension 2 |2 overlapping the depending arm 2 I6 of the second bell crank and adapted to be engaged by an adjustable screw 2|4 carried by the latter arm. This screw is preferably provided with a grooved head engageable by a spring pressed detent 2|8, so that it may be forcibly adjusted, but will be definitely held in adjusted position until substantial force is exerted to turn it against the holding action of the detent. As will be evident, hereafter. the two yokes |46 and |68 will, in general, partake of the same adjustments for different conditions, but for stitch balancing purposes, must be adjusted with respect to each other. The arrangement just described provides for such condition.

The control of the cams forming the subjectmatter of this application takes place first in the formation of the stocking after completion of the extended top, when the auxiliary yarn finger is brought into action. This yarn finger carries a fine yarn suitable for the formation of the leg and corresponding in neness and type to the yarn at the main feed which will also form the leg. For the purpose of increasing the rapidity of production and also minimizing the appearance which might be due to unevenness of the yarns, two courses of the leg are knit in every revolution of the needle cylinder, i. e., the leg is knit two-feed. Accordingly, at this time yarns are brought into action at both the main and auxiliary feed. All of the cams at the auxiliary feed are rendered active. The stitch adjusting cam 200 will now be in a position (which it may have idly occupied heretofore) to engage the proper screw in the lever |92 to adjust the stitch cam 94, to the position necessary to balance the stitches formed at the auxiliary feed with those formed at the main feed, while both yarns produce the leg. All of the needles now pass through knitting waves at both the main and auxiliary feeds, and consequently the leg is produced in two-feed fashion.

Following the formation of the leg the production of the high splice is begun with the simultaneous production of the instep portion of the stocking. In the formation of these portions of the stocking, .the instep needles take yarn at the auxiliary feed to knit the instep portion while the sole needles take yarn at the main feed to knit the high splice. 'I'he suture needles take yarn at both feeds. Knitting is now accomplished during reciprocation of the needle cylinder and knitting, therefore, takes place during both forward and reverse movements of the needles.

A high splice yarn is now substituted at the main feed for the leg yarn. The various cams at the auxiliary feed, with the exception of the center cam 92, are partially Withdrawn so as to engage only the long butt and suture needles, but miss the short butt needles.

The needles now pass through the cams as described in said parent application Serial No. 264,533.

During the formation of this portion of the fabric, the cam 200 will have been moved to a position to adjust the stitch cams at the auxiliary feed to produce stitches through the instep, "which is knit on one feed only) corresponding to the stitches formed in the leg by both feeds so that a uniform appearance is provided from the leg into the instep. The two stitch cams 94 and 96 are adjusted relatively to each other by adjustment of the screw 2H. In order to secure a proper stitch condition through the high splice a relative adjustment of the stitch cams 68 and 66 at the main feed is also effected. The proper stitches are caused to be produced by fixed cam 68 by vertical adjustment of the needle cylinder by control of the means illustrated in said Scott patent.

Following completion of the high splice, reciprocation is continued for the formation of the heel. The instep yarn continues to extend from its actively positioned linger to the suture needle which last received it and a suitable takeup sweep of conventional character is active to control it. The cams at the auxiliary feed are now completely withdrawn to such extent as to withdraw center cam 92 with them. Withdrawal of cam 92 is necessary, since it will otherwise lower needles which are picked down and thereby may cause them to seize the instep yarn which is idling back and forth.

Following the formation of the heel, the production of the split foot now proceeds with the restoration of the various cams to the position they occupied in the formation of the high splice, and the movements of the various needles and sinkers in the formation of the split foot are the same as they were during the formation of the high splice. Since a different yarn may be used in the split foot as compared with the yarn used for the formation of the high splice, the cam 200 may be adjusted to a third position to provide proper balance of"y the stitches in the instep por- 'tion of the stocking to cause them to correspond to the stitches formed in the upper instep portion adjacent the high splice.

At the end of the formation of the split foot rotary knitting is resumed to provide knitting of all of the needles at the main feed to produce the ring toe. Accordingly, the cams at the auxiliary feed are withdrawn. The stocking is then completed in conventional fashion, no further knitting at the auxiliary feed occurring.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying a circular series of needles, a stitch cam for lowering needles as they travel in one direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, a second stitch cam for lowering the needles as they travel in the opposite direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, means for relatively adjusting said stitch cams to balance the loops drawn under their action, and pattern means for automatically moving said stitch cams in unison to vary the size of the balanced loops drawn.

2. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying a circular series of needles, a stitch cam for lowering needles as they travel in one direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, a second stitch cam for lowering the needles as they travel in the opposite direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, means for relatively adjusting said stitch cams to balance the loops drawn under their action, means for moving said stitch cams in unison to vary the size of the balanced loops drawn, and means for independently moving said stitch cams toward and away from the needles.

3. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying a circular series of needles, means for feeding yarn to the needles, a pair of stitch cams located adjacent said feeding means, a pair of slides each carrying one of said stitch cams and being radially movable with respect to the needle cylinder, said stitch cams being vertically movable on their slides, and means for effecting movements of said stitch cams both radially and axially with respect to the needle cylinder.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying' a circular series of needles, a main knitting feed, and an auxiliary knitting feed, the latter including a. pair of stitch cams which with respect to the needle cylinder are independently axially adjustable for stitch balancing, axially movable in unison for stitch adjustment, and also movable radially toward and from the needle cylinder to engage selectively needles thereof.

5. In a. knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying a circular series of needles, a stitch cam for lowering needles as they travel in one direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, a second stitch cam for lowering the needles as they travel in the opposite direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, said stitch cams being operated by separate means which are relatively adjustable to balance the loops drawn by the two stitch cams and which are movable in unison to vary the size of the balanced loops drawn.

6. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying a circular series of needles, a stitch cam for lowering needles as they travel in one direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, a second stitch cam for lowering the needles as they travel in the opposite direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, one of said stitch cams being operated by a lever, the other oi said stitch cams being operated by a second lever which is mounted on the rst named lever, and adjustable means for varying the relative positions of said levers so that the loops drawn by the two stitch cams may be balanced.

'7. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder carrying a circular series of needles, a stitch cam for 'lowering needles as they travel in one direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, a second stitch cam for lowering the needles as they travel in the opposite direction to cause them to draw loops of yarn, one of said stitch cams being operated by a lever, the other of said stitch cams being operated by a second lever which is mounted on the first named lever, adjustable means for varying the relative positions of said levers so that the loops drawn by the two stitch cams may be balanced, and means for moving the two levers as a unit to vary the size of the balanced loops drawn.

HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN. 

